Liga MB Round 12 (Regular Season): No surprise as #1 Cojute defeats Santa Tecla

Liga MB Regular Season is still in too early stage and there may be still significant changes in the standings. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Liga MB top team - Cojute (10-1) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they beat sixth ranked Santa Tecla (4-7) in Cojutepeque 86-69. Cojute forced 19 Santa Tecla turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Santa Tecla's players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Cojute made 9 blocks. Worth to mention a quality performance of American guard Jeremy Agosto (177-1997) who helped to win the game recording 31 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists and the other American import Nick Moore (198-1991, college: Alliance) who added 3 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 blocks during the contest. The best for the losing side was Dominican power forward Jose Espinal (208-1998) with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 15 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Cojute maintains first position with 10-1 record. Defending champion Santa Tecla keeps the sixth place with seven games lost. Cojute are looking forward to face Santiagueno (#7) in Usultan in the next round where they are favorite. Santa Tecla will play on the road against Metapan and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (0-10) is still winless. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their tenth consecutive match to fourth ranked Brujos (7-3) 126-69. The winners were led by Dominican forward Adonis Lopez (-1997) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 24 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists (on 12-of-14 shooting from the field) and Alejandro De Los Santos supported him with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Even 29 points and 8 rebounds by naturalized Puerto Rican swingman Miguel Velez (185-1997, college: Hartnell JC) did not help to save the game for Chalchuapa. Brujos have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with San Salvador and Fantasmas. Chalchuapa at the other side still closes the standings with ten games lost. Brujos will play against league's second-placed San Salvador on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Chalchuapa will play against Santa Ana (#8) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (0-10) is still winless. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they lost on the road their tenth consecutive match to fourth ranked San Salvador (7-3) 101-86 on Sunday evening. The best player for the winners was Neysser Coutin who had a double-double by scoring 32 points, 24 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. San Salvador's coach used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the other side the best for losing team was Miguel Velez who recorded 37 points (!!!), 5 assists and 5 steals. San Salvador moved-up to second place, which they share with Brujos and Fantasmas. Loser Chalchuapa still closes the standings with ten games lost. San Salvador will meet at home Brujos (#4) in the next round. Chalchuapa will play against Santa Ana (#8) and looks forward to get finally their first victory.

In the last game of round 12 Fantasmas won against Santa Ana on the opponent's court 97-87.



Chalchuapa - Brujos 69-126

Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (0-10) is still winless. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their tenth consecutive match to fourth ranked Brujos (7-3) 126-69. Brujos dominated down low during the game scoring 80 of its points in the paint compared to Chalchuapa's 44. They outrebounded Chalchuapa 56-30 including a 23-11 advantage in offensive rebounds. Brujos shot the lights out from three nailing 12 long-distance shots on high 52.2 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. The winners were led by Dominican forward Adonis Lopez (-1997) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 24 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists (on 12-of-14 shooting from the field) and Dominican forward Alejandro De Los Santos (193-2002) supported him with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. Even 29 points and 8 rebounds by naturalized Puerto Rican swingman Miguel Velez (185-1997, college: Hartnell JC) did not help to save the game for Chalchuapa. American forward Markos Samuels (196, college: Arkansas Bapt.) added 14 points and 11 rebounds. Brujos have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with San Salvador and Fantasmas. Chalchuapa at the other side still closes the standings with ten games lost. Brujos will play against league's second-placed San Salvador on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Chalchuapa will play against Santa Ana (#8) and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Brujos: A.Joe 36+3reb+1ast, D.Los Santos Alejandro 26+11reb+5ast, L.Adonis 24+14reb+7ast, O.Felipe 9+1ast, M.Luis 8+2reb, U.Francisco 6+4reb+1ast
Chalchuapa: M.Velez 29+8reb+2ast, M.Samuels 14+11reb+2ast, R.Mercado 12+5reb+5ast, A.Jonathan 8+2reb+2ast, A.Christopher 4+2reb, Q.Daniel 2+1reb

Cojute - Santa Tecla 86-69

Liga MB top team - Cojute (10-1) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they beat sixth ranked Santa Tecla (4-7) in Cojutepeque 86-69. Cojute forced 19 Santa Tecla turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Santa Tecla's players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Cojute made 9 blocks. Worth to mention a quality performance of American guard Jeremy Agosto (177-1997) who helped to win the game recording 31 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists and the other American import Nick Moore (198-1991, college: Alliance) who added 3 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 blocks during the contest. The best for the losing side was Dominican power forward Jose Espinal (208-1998) with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 15 rebounds and Dominican swingman Elian Torres (201-2000) scored 18 points and 7 rebounds. Four Santa Tecla players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Cojute maintains first position with 10-1 record. Defending champion Santa Tecla keeps the sixth place with seven games lost. Cojute are looking forward to face Santiagueno (#7) in Usultan in the next round where they are favorite. Santa Tecla will play on the road against Metapan and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Cojute: A.Jeremy 31+5reb+7ast, P.Figueroa 13+4reb+3ast, M.William 10+1reb+2ast, K.Martinez 7+2reb+4ast, R.David 6+2reb+1ast, G.Jefferson 5+3reb
Santa Tecla: E.Torres 18+7reb+2ast, L.Portal 16+4reb, E.Jose 12+15reb, J.Barahona 11+8reb+4ast, H.Demian 6+1ast, H.Kristhian 3+4reb

Santa Ana - Fantasmas 87-97

Very expected game when 8th ranked Santa Ana (2-9) was defeated at home by fourth ranked Fantasmas (7-3) 97-87 on Sunday. Fantasmas dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Santa Ana's 38. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was American guard Caleb Bowser (193, college: Georgian Court) who had a double-double by scoring 35 points (!!!), 18 rebounds and 8 assists. The other American import swingman Andravious Smith (198-1995, college: Tougaloo) chipped in a double-double by scoring 39 points (!!!), 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. At the other side the best for losing team was Dominican forward Frankyn Batista (198-1999, college: Pace) who recorded a double-double by scoring 30 points, 27 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals and American swingman Shian Bradshaw (194-1995, college: Wake Tech CC) added 23 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists respectively. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Fantasmas have a solid four-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place, which they share with Brujos and San Salvador. Santa Ana lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the eighth position with nine games lost. Fantasmas will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Santa Ana will play against Chalchuapa (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Fantasmas: A.Smith 39+12reb+4ast, C.Bowser 35+18reb+8ast, A.Smith 11+11reb+3ast, J.Flores 5+4reb+2ast, N.Carlos 3, M.Francisco 2
Santa Ana: F.Batista 30+27reb+5ast, S.Bradshaw 23+5reb+6ast, M.Melvin 11+1reb+1ast, R.Benjamin 9+4reb, L.Fernando 6, F.Carcamo 5+3ast

San Salvador - Chalchuapa 101-86

Bottom-ranked Chalchuapa (0-10) is still winless. But it was rather predictable considering how strong their opponent was. This time they lost on the road their tenth consecutive match to fourth ranked San Salvador (7-3) 101-86 on Sunday evening. San Salvador dominated down low during the game scoring 68 of its points in the paint compared to Chalchuapa's 42. They outrebounded Chalchuapa 68-25 including a 33-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. San Salvador looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 19 passes made by Chalchuapa's players. The best player for the winners was Cuban swingman Neysser Coutin (192-1996, agency: Pro Sports) who had a double-double by scoring 32 points, 24 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Cuban guard Pedro Roque (187-1995) chipped in a double-double by scoring 16 points, 7 rebounds and 12 assists. Four San Salvador players scored in double figures. San Salvador's coach used an eleven-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. At the other side the best for losing team was naturalized Puerto Rican swingman Miguel Velez (185-1997, college: Hartnell JC) who recorded 37 points (!!!), 5 assists and 5 steals and Puerto Rican point guard Ryann Mercado (182-1987, college: App State) added 19 points and 8 assists respectively. San Salvador moved-up to second place, which they share with Brujos and Fantasmas. Loser Chalchuapa still closes the standings with ten games lost. San Salvador will meet at home Brujos (#4) in the next round. Chalchuapa will play against Santa Ana (#8) and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
San Salvador: N.Coutin 32+24reb+5ast, E.Rodriguez 21+6reb+7ast, P.Roque 16+7reb+12ast, L.Valle 10+8reb+1ast, T.Gabriel 6+2reb, S.Andres 6+4reb
Chalchuapa: M.Velez 37+4reb+5ast, R.Mercado 19+2reb+8ast, M.Samuels 15+6reb+2ast, A.Jonathan 9+4reb, J.Galdamez 3+2reb+2ast, A.Christopher 3+5reb+2ast